Tournaments

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Okay, so this has nothing to do with book blogging, but it is my newest love! I just started a small (very small) business, A Wrinkle In Time Antiques & Things. I had to use a literary allusion because I LOVE BOOKS!!!

Anyways, it's a furniture refurbishing business; and it's something that I got into with the trend of shabby chic, antiqued, and distressed furniture. I have done quite a few jobs in my life, and this by far, is the first one I would classify as work that I love. So, I figured, why not see if I can sell my stuff. So, that's what I am trying to do. I'm going to start out at the local flea markets and try to get into the antique malls around here (although the waitlists are ridiculously long). We will see how it goes! If it falls flat, at least I'll have some awesome looking furniture!

Anyways, I need your help!!! I need to get some "Likes" on my Facebook page that I just started yesterday. This helps promote the business and the more "likes" you get, the more promotion you get!

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.

But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight

***This is a review of the first half of the book as I just
got my copy!

I just love this world!!!! I was hypnotized by Defiance—a world that
seemed futuristic, yet somehow lost in the past; a Commander as evil as the sun
is bright; a love that has awoken a purpose; and an unkillable beast that
haunts the underground.CJ’s dystopian
world is imaginative and terrifying, and I am captivated more with every turn
of the page.

This sequel starts pretty much right where the last book
ends, and I like that very little time has passed.Straight off, we see the animosity and fear
that has settled in the hearts of the survivors, and I have enjoyed seeing how
everyone reacts to the realization that they are no longer under the Commander’s
thumb.Some of the women are finally
starting to shed their old ways, and many of the men are learning that
oppression is not the norm.While I do
like seeing deeper into this newfound society, I have noticed that the plot is
slower than the first book.This is
because we are getting a more involved look at the characters, but I do wish
that there would be some more action to move the growing relationships along.

Rachel is just as broken as she was in the last book, and
while I like that this hardens her and makes her a warrior, I do find myself
missing that connection between her and Logan.The love is there, and you can see it; but it is definitely
strained.I feel like they are
disconnected, and I just keep waiting for something horrible to happen because
they aren’t being straight with each other.Still, Rachel is a kick a** character, and I am having a blast seeing her
stand up to even the strongest of men.

I just love Logan, and he’s not the type I normally fall
for.I tend to like the bad, mysterious
guys; and Logan is not that.He’s
sincere and sweet, and he knows nothing about playing the games that bad boys do.He’s just that sweet guy that knows how to
steal your heart.I love him so hard!

One thing I do miss is the tension and hatred that the
Commander instills when he shows up.I’m
a little over 200 pages in, and he has been seen on a horse, like twice.I want his anger and hatred to fuel the
action, and it just isn’t there.Now,
that doesn’t mean there isn’t some good action.There is a mystery in the group of survivors that needs to be solved or
people will die (or continue to die), but it just doesn’t add the suspense and
malice that the Commander did in the first book.I’m definitely ready for a stand off between
him and Rachel.

Overall, I’m really liking what I’ve read so far (I’ve read
over 200 pages today which is rare for me now), and I’m looking forward to
finding out what happens next with the Commander, the Cursed One, and the
lovers.Here’s to hoping that the ending
doesn’t crush me since we have to wait another year for the final book!!

Monday, August 26, 2013

The Sisters Say:Good
story, but kind of a let down after the first book

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

I was so excited to read Of Triton because I was completely
blown away by Of Poseidon.I was so
blown away that I did a special Top Ten review of it!Sadly, this sequel did not live up to my
expectations.That doesn’t mean it was
bad, I actually enjoyed it.However, the
things that were so good in Of Poseidon were missing if Of Triton.

I’ll start with what I liked:the plot.Anna started the story up right where the last book left off, and there
was little time for boredom.The pacing
was well done, and I never felt like I needed to put the book down to get some
distance, even when I was disappointed in parts.I do wish the book would have been a little
longer, spending more time in the ocean because I love seeing beneath the
surface!

The thing I really missed the most was the humor.In Of Poseidon, I found myself laughing out
loud over and over again.Emma’s voice
was much more flat in the sequel, and I felt like we just didn’t see her
originality flow from the dialogue.Furthermore, I didn’t see the humor from Toraf, either, and he was one
of my favorite characters from the first book.I’m hoping we see the humor come back in the final book.

I also missed the romance aspect.It was there, but it just wasn’t prevalent
like it was in the first book.There was
always something in the way, and I wanted Emma and Galen just to say “Screw
it,” to the world and let go in an amazing kiss.But that never happened.The romance was a kiss here, a hug there; but
there was no immediacy to it—no passion.

The final thing that bugged me was the switch from Emma’s
first person to Galen’s third person—drove me nuts!!!!!It might be because I was an English teacher,
but I just couldn’t get past the fact that we could see inside Emma’s thoughts,
but not Galen’s.I think it needed to be
first person from both of them or third person from both.I just felt disconnected from Galen.

Overall, it was a good storyline, and I’m happy with the
progression of the gifts and the tension.It just fell flat in the little details that made the first book so
unique and impressive.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

I'm so excited to be hosting the Blog Tour today for April Genevieve Tucholke's gothic romance, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA!!! I got a copy of this from PenguinTeen and read it right away, and I have been spreading the word ever since!! Check out this gorgeous cover, and be sure to read the quick guest post about April's main character below. Then you'll find my glowing review!!!

From April:

My main character Violet is a lonely, ex-wealthy, small town girl who misses her dead grandmother, Freddie. Violet prays to Freddie instead of God. She lives in a crumbling mansion by the sea and wears Freddie’s old, vintage clothes and tries not to spend too much time wondering where her heedless artist parents got themselves off to.

Violet is what I would call a Bookworm Heroine. She’s doesn’t have magical fighting skills or know how to use a sword. She’s not a secret assassin and she doesn’t have a temper or a cabinet of lethal poisons. She’s not badass. She reads books and thinks a lot and dreams a lot and still manages to save the day, so to speak, in the end.

Violet might be based on me. A bit. But then, so is River. And Jack. And Neely. I think I’ve been shades of all these characters, at different points in my life. They all contain a part of me.

**********************************************

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve
Tucholke

ARC received from Penguin Teen

Release Date:8-15-2013

Reviewed by Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:Enchanting, Grotesque, and Utterly Beautiful

You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.

A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop--a must-read for fans ofBeautiful Creatures,The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, andAnna Dressed in Blood.

Have you ever been completely swept away by the magic of a
book?I mean, the kind of swept away
that leaves you breathless and aching and dying for more?Between
the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was that book for me.Reading it was like hearing a noise in the
dead of the night and getting up to check it out.It’s the fear that lingers after looking into
the deepest recesses of the dark and finding nothing, but just knowing,
something is there.Lurking.Biding its time.April Genevieve Tucholke’s world is both
monstrous and beautiful, with whispers in the dark and monsters in the shadows
and stolen kisses in the night.I’ve
never read anything like it. Her world has unequivocally and irrevocably placed
a shadow on mine, and I can only dream about finding myself, once more, caught
between her Devil and the raging sea.

From page 1, I felt completely and utterly immersed in
April’s world, and for the hours it took me to read it, I wanted to be nowhere
else.Even after I was done, I wanted to
plunge head first back into the tumultuous world of secrets and devils.I could smell the sea salt lingering in the
humid air, feel the cool breeze wafting in from the cliffs, and feel the
thumping in my heart that accompanies unbridled fear.I loved the picturesque town that April
built—it was enchanting and dangerous—like the imaginations of Bram Stoker and
Emily Bronte and William Faulkner merged together to create a quietly deceptive
town with its own brand of madness.I could
picture every part of it, from the decaying mansion on the edge of the sea,
down to the crunch of the rocks on the paths into town.Wild and treacherous and full of darkness,
the town of Echo is truly a masterpiece of all things that go bump in the
night.

I absolutely adored Violet, our main character.She was off-kilter and perceptive, and I
loved how she could sit outside in the sun and read Hawthorne and quote poems
and see right into someone’s soul.I
felt her turmoil and her desires, and I loved watching her struggle with her
own sense of right and wrong.I loved
watching her come to her own conclusions about River, and more than that, I
loved how she pushed aside truths for her gut instincts.I felt each emotion as it poured out of
her.I loved her strange sense of
fashion (wearing her dead grandmother’s younger clothes), and how she didn’t
care about what anyone else thought.She
was strong and confident, but allowed herself to be scared when she really
needed to be scared.I loved everything
about her—she is definitely a heroine that I will long remember.

And then there’s River West.His name just rolls of the tongue with spice, but you know he’s one of
those spices that will leave your mouth burning for hours.He’s hot and cold, up and down, and the
secret that he holds is definitely a doozy.But with a name like River and a smile that could light up the night
sky, who cares about deadly and terrifying secrets?I loved River because he is one of those
perfect gothic men that walk a fine line between good and evil, but when it
comes straight down to it, you just don’t know which side he favors.He reminded me of Heathcliff from Wuthering
Heights because he could be the cruelest of cruel with a smile on his face, the
Devil in sheep’s clothing.Yet, there is
something about him that makes you want to wrap your arms around him and never
let him go.He’s the bad guy that you
can’t help but fall in love with, he’s the troubled guy that can’t be fixed,
he’s the guy your mother warned you about.He’s the Devil that holds your hands and kisses your cheeks and makes
you want everything and nothing and then everything again.He’s Trouble, and don’t you just love it?

I also loved April’s minor characters—Jack, Sunshine, and
Neely.They each had a personality all
their own, and they brought life to the story.They all fit perfectly into this gothic tale of love and horror, and
none of them will escape unscathed.Watching their horrors and triumphs and losses was heart-breaking and
amazing.

It’s been a while since a book was able to worm its way into
my heart of hearts and put up for a permanent residence, but this book has done
it.It’s the perfect mix of horror and
romance, and I just couldn’t get enough of River and Violet.April’s writing was gorgeous in every aspect,
and she brought the small town of Echo to both life and death.T.S. Eliot wrote, “Between the idea and the
reality Between the motion and the act Falls the shadow.”I can’t help but think this describes April’s
world perfectly—a place that exists between now and then, between love and
hate, between life and death.A place
that exists in the shadows, in the dark and with the Devil.

Favorite Quotes:

“There’s truths and then there’s truths, Violet.And some damn truths shouldn’t be spoken out
loud, or the Devil will hear, and then he’ll come for you. Amen.” PG 4

"People said time was relative, and I guess that
explained why my life before River felt line a handful of seconds--brief
flashes of small events that added up to very little. But my life after River
was a three-volume saga. Epic. With quests and villains and murderers and
unsatisfactory resolutions and people being torn apart." Pg 364

"River leaned over me, wrapped his fingers around my
neck, and pulled my ear to his lips. "I'll make you dinner when I get
back, and afterward, I'll be answering questions,' he whispered." Pg 132

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Published by Dial (Penguin)
Release Date: On Shelves NOW!!!

"People said time was relative, and I guess that explained why my life before River felt line a handful of seconds--brief flashes of small events that added up to very little. But my life after River was a three-volume saga. Epic. With quests and villains and murderers and unsatisfactory resolutions and people being torn apart." Pg 364

"River leaned over me, wrapped his fingers around my neck, and pulled my ear to his lips. "I'll make you dinner when I get back, and afterward, I'll be answering questions,' he whispered." Pg 132

*************************************

This book rocked my world. The language was beautiful--I could have written down quotes all day. Be sure to check out my review during my blog tour stop tomorrow!!!!! Leave a link to your TT or TTT and I'll comment back (when I get back into town from my vacay!)

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Sisters Say:Gut-wrenching and unique; a tale of blissful woe and beautiful agony

Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.

With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make awager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.

I was sold on this book the moment I saw that it was a
modernization of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, Annabel Lee.I love Poe’s dark nature, and I definitely
saw whispers of his inner demons in Mary Lindsey’s rewrite.Lindsey’s world was dark and gritty, full of
open deceit and hatred.Lindsey created
a terrifying story set in our world, but not of our world; where ancient
beliefs and discrimination hold sway over the balance of life and death.

I love the new wave of gothic romances that are sweeping the
YA shelves this summer.This is by far
my favorite sub-genre of YA, and I will read any others in this area with open
arms.I love the poetic writing that
brings these ominous worlds to life; and there is a part of me that embraces
that fact that good does not always win over evil.It’s more truthful and in a way, makes the
books all the more poignant.I praise
Mary Lindsey for her willingness to delve into the deep recesses of human
nature, bringing to light that death is what makes life worth living.

My favorite part of this story was the setting—which seems
to be what I love the most in the gothic genre.Ashes takes place on a secluded island that, although present day, lives
like it’s the 1800s.There is new
electricity or plumbing on most of the island, and the citizens have created a
Lord of the Flies type of existence.Murder and deceit are not punished as civilized society would have it, instead,
lynchings and other atrocities are accepted.The island was frustrating and eerie, but the perfect place for a tragic
love story.

I did have some sort of trouble with what seemed like
insta-love.I say “seemed like” because
Liam and Anna knew each other when they were kids, so it wasn’t like it was
love at first sight.But I did feel like
they fell so quickly, but I guess that keeps with the poem, so it was
appropriate.

Liam was unlike most of the guys in YA literature, which was
refreshing, although he didn’t blow me away.He is soft-spoken, kind and gentle, and extremely shy.Again, this keeps with the 1800s feel of the
setting, though as the relationship between him and Anna is more like an
old-days courtship than a modern romance.Their love was true and you could see that in the selfless acts they
committed, but I wish there was more passion along the way.It seemed too tame for me, and not tame in the
sexual sense.I mean, tame as in, very
few passionate embraces and kisses were actually described.It was more like her kiss blew me away and
that was it.I wanted to feel the
emotion in the act.

I liked Anna, although again, I felt like she needed more
emotion.She is broken like Liam, only
in a completely different way.They come
from two different worlds, but their desperation to be acknowledged brought
them together.I liked that Anna didn’t
back down from a fight, even when it was the entire town against her.

Overall, this was a great tragic romance with very few
flaws.Mary Lindsey created a story of star-crossed
lovers that will rival even the greatest of loves, and stand up to the darkest
of fates.

Friday, August 16, 2013

It's that time again--the time where Bloggers come together to celebrate why we LOVE authors so much!!!! I love this tour because it is so completely extensive that I get a little insight into so many different authors. Then, of course, I become obsessive with reading all their books!!!!

I'm very excited to be hosting SUSAN DENNARD, author of SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY and its sequel that just recently hit shelves, A DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY. So, why is Susan a rockstar??? Glad you asked...

She's a freakin' rockstar, dear old "Sooz"'Cause she brought us Daniel, who I'd like to schmooze;And poor Miss Fitt, who turns her back upon the rulesAnd takes up with the hunters who others say are fools.This was the first steampunk book I'd ever read,And it won't be the last, I say without dread.For Susan introduced me to a world unlike my own,And for that, she's a rockstar, the best I've ever known!

So....there you have it!!!! Hope you enjoyed my rhyme, and now it's time for the interview!!!

Your absolutely terrifying laugh—it’s like an old witch’s cackle if that witch
was tone deaf and had smoked her entire life. It’s music to my ears while also
making my skin crawl.

5. Awww. Thanks, Soozyface. So, tell me about THE STARKILLERS CYCLE as if I
don't know what it is.

THE STARKILLERS CYCLE is the online, serialized space opera that I coauthored
with YOU (Sarah J. Maas). It's perfect for fans of epic sci-fi and steamy
romance, and is set in a diverse and cutthroat galaxy. From an escaped convict
with blood on her hands to a society girl turned fighter pilot, follow a
sweeping cast of characters as they learn the galaxy is a far bigger—and more
terrifying—place than they ever imagined.

Basically, this story is the best thing ever written in the entire history of
the universe. It's a guaranteed intergalactic bestseller that was first
inspired after we got a wee bit too tipsy on New Years Eve. Oh, and most
important of all, you can read the first chapters here.

Amen.

*********************************************

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to go see Susan interview Sarah!!!!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot describe how excited I am to be able to help reveal the cover of J. Lynn's novella, TRUST IN ME which releases October 22, 2013. But that's not even the best news--the best news is.....it's from Cam's point of view. You know Cam, right? The gorgeous, soulful, make me fall for you in a million different ways hottie from Wait For You!!!!

So, without further swooning from me:

*Swoons....gets up, takes another look at that cover AND....Swoons Again*

What do you think? I love it, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. But, I'm not done yet. Don't forget to check out the blurb and enter the GIVEAWAY!!!!

About the novella:

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is FATES by Lanie Bross. It will be released February 11, 2014 from Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

What if your destiny was to kill the one you love?

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people’s fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she’s falling all over again—this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die.

In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

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I love the ones where there is a hint of Greek myth, so when I saw a book about a girl (who I am assuming is a Fate or related to a Fate), I got very excited. Too bad it doesn't come out until next year!!

Monday, August 12, 2013

I am so happy that Spencer Hill is now getting imprints!!!! I am a huge fan of YA, but I also love contemporary romance and NA; so when Spencer Hill announced the new imprints, I was very excited. And now, its time to reveal the first cover for the new contemporary romance imprint, Tulip Romance!!!

So...check it out!!!!

What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky return to Texas. Her return means more than facing her ugly past, she must also face the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.

"Raw, romantic, and suspenseful!" ~ Katie McGarry, author of Dare You To

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Hello everyone! Today we have the pleasure to help reveal the cover and an excerpt from Angeline Kace's new adult novel, Wicked Thing!! So...check it out!!!

BOOK SUMMARY:

Carmyn
Rafferty witnessed the aftermath of her mother's affair. She learned at a young
age not to trust anyone. Especially not your spouse. So she's planned. She's
planned every detail of her life: who her husband will be, what their careers
will be, what their lives will be like. All to avoid the pain of infidelity.

Dallas
Brown lives a life all his own. He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't care
what anyone thinks of him, and he doesn't live up to anyone's expectations but
his own.

When
Carmyn's fiancé cheats on her, it sends her into a whirlwind of one-night
stands with the most infamous player on campus. She can't seem to stay away
from this tough guy and his dangerous motorcycle. Everything about him is the
complete opposite of who she'd planned to fall in love with: tattoos, dark
stubble along his jawline, and hair that brushes his shoulders.

As
Dallas and Carmyn begin to fall deeper and deeper into each other, they learn
that love can truly be a wicked, wicked thing.

***********************************************

Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and
dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves
aren't, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they
are. She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing,
which releases September 2013.

Carmyn looks over at me a few times,
always looking away when our eyes meet. She’s watched us play most of this last
game, so I grab the darts out of the board and walk over to her. “Play me.”

She tries to hold back her smile. “I
don’t have any cash on me.”

“Then if I win, you kiss me.”

She looks me up and down. “What the
hell.” She shrugs. “And if I win…” She studies me as if she's not sure what's
worth my price. “You have to teach me how to drive your motorcycle.”

The crowd roars with a loud,
“Ooooohhhh!” and she’s grinning like a god damn magician. That’s a good one.
She’s gotta know I don’t let anyone drive my bike but me. Everyone knows it.
It’s my baby. But I’m confident I’ll win. She’s dancing tonight like she’s
reached a perfect buzz level—drunk enough to let loose, but not too drunk to
fall ass over face. And on the point-oh-five percent chance that I do lose,
it’ll get her on my bike, spreading her legs to straddle the leather and steel.
No matter how much I’ve stuck to my self-imposed rule of “no chicks on the
bike,” that alone might be worth the small risk.

But shit. To let her drive it. I just
don’t know. That’s a lot. “You know I don’t let anyone drive it, right? Hell, I
don’t even let the ladies on for a ride.”

She grins, again challenge accepted.
“Well, you know I don’t go around betting to let just anyone kiss me, right?
And I doubt this is anything less than a once in a life time opportunity.”

It only has a single seat, so I won’t
be able to be on there with her to help her drive it. I specifically asked for
the single 1939 Harley Davidson seat during the build. Every detail of this
bike was thought through.

Vick’s glaring at me from the sidelines.
She’s tried on numerous occasions to talk me into taking her for a ride. Even
going so far as to offer sexual favors, or incentives as she calls them. Which
of course I could never accept. She’s gonna be pissed.

“Do it. Do it!” the guys start
chanting.

I’ve never seen her play when the
brothers get a game going. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her watch much of our
games before, either. And that pussy of an ex-boyfriend of hers has never had
the balls to throw any money down. Shit. I gotta do it. I present the darts to
her. “Do you wanna start, or shall I?”

The crowd whoops, and Ava runs up and
hugs her. “I’m so proud of you,” she yell-whispers into Carmyn’s ear. Carmyn
pats Ava’s arm and then steps forward, wrapping her fingers around the darts in
my palm.

I curl my hand, catching the beveled
darts between our fingers. “Do you know how to play?”

“Outer ring is double, inner ring is
triple. First to zero wins.” She yanks the darts out of my hand when I’m too
stunned to do anything but let them go.

Shit. Is she trying to hustle me?

She walks back to the line we’ve taped
on the scratched hardwood. It’s sexy as hell seeing her walk over there like
she owns it. That doesn’t mean she’ll win, though. My shot is straight and
accurate. Even if she does know how to play, I doubt she’s better than me.

She shoots pretty well. I’m surprised
why she never plays more; she could win a shitload of money from these drunk
clowns.

Still, I should win this round. Carmyn
has one hundred nine points left, and I’m down to fifty-four. I could hit a
triple eighteen, but I can’t win on the first dart because I’ll appear too
eager. And I can’t win on the third and final dart of this round because I’ll
look like a chump. I survey the board and do some quick math, figuring out
where I have to hit to get the numbers I want from each dart. I shoot the first
dart and hit a single four.

The guys cheer.

“Only the inner bulls eye is left,”
Nate says. He’s keeping score.

“He’s got this,” Randall calls.

I do. I look over at Carmyn and she’s
holding back a smile, shaking her head. “Nope. You’re not gonna hit it.”

I’ve been avoiding that the whole game.
She doesn’t think I can hit it. I wet my lips. That kiss is mine. I throw the
second dart and it sinks into the center of the board.

I raise my fists into the air and hop
on my toes while the crowd cheers.

Carmyn’s jutting out her jaw and
shaking her head.

I move the couple of steps over to her,
taking my time. “I’ve come to collect what’s mine,” I warn her.

“Right here?” She glances around at all
the bystanders.

“They’re all invested now too. They’re
not about to look away now.” I drop my voice. “Better make it good.”

She swallows, hesitating.

“I believe this is yours.” I hand her
the last dart in my hand. “And this is my mine.” I cup her face in my hands
before she can think anything else, and I kiss her.

Her lips pucker, but I’ve worked for
this, so she better give me more than that. I open my mouth slightly and she
mirrors me. My tongue strokes her upper lip gently. Hers reaches out and
caresses mine. When she pulls her tongue back to stroke again, I open my mouth
to a full kiss. Our tongues run along the other’s, tasting, taking in the firm
but giving sensation as they meld together and then pull apart.

The room is loud around us, but I tune
everyone out. I’ve kissed a lot of women before, but Carmyn’s is more than
that. From her breaths mingling with mine, to the delicate way she tilts her
head. I knew the bet would be worth it.

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Sorry if the formatting is all wonky! Blogger is being a big fat jerkface tonight.